“We offered the fight to around 40 people or more, and all declined for one reason or another,” Maynard said in an email. “For the naysayers, Holly is willing to fight anyone.”

Paes fought twice in 2005, but then took a lengthy hiatus. But more than eight years ago, the first fight of her career was a kneebar submission of former Strikeforce champion Cristiane Justino. Starting your career with a tapout win over the woman who would become “Cyborg” Santos is an impressive feat. But after a loss in her second fight, Paes didn’t fight again until April of this year, when she returned with a submission win. In June, though, she lost a decision at Jungle Fight 54 in her home country. Now she’ll fight in America for the first time.

Holm went 33-2-3 during her pro boxing career. In her promotional debut at Legacy FC 21 in July, she scored picked up a second-round knockout win with a head kick against Allanna Jones. All of Holm’s MMA wins have come by knockout. She trains at the Jackson-Winkeljohn camp in Albuquerque, N.M.

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